NPCI New Biometric and Wearable Authentication of UPI

1. Overview:

• Hail, Launched by: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) together with the RBI.
• Event: Released at the Global Fintech Fest 2025 in Mumbai.
• Core Feature: Adds biometric and smart glasses based authentication of UPI transactions.

2. Key Features & Functionality:

• Biometric Authentication:
  • Enables the user to pay with the help of the facial recognition or fingerprint.
  • Can potentially substitute the conventional 4 or 6-digit UPI PIN.
  • Data Privacy: Biometric information is stored in the device of the user and is not sent to the outside world.
• Wearable Glass Payments:
  • Allows voice command, hands free payments through QR scans.
  • The feature of the UPI Lite, which requires no phone or PIN used to transact.
• Multi-Signatory Accounts:
  • Allows using several joint accounts to approve one transaction to create greater transparency.
• Aadhaar-Based Onboarding:
  • The new users are allowed to enroll to UPI through Aadhaar verification without the inclusion of debit card or OTP.

3. Benefits & Objectives:

• Greater Security: Banks verify transactions through high-level cryptography, which minimizes fraud.
• Financial Inclusion: Tends to support the elderly citizens, the rural customers and the first time clients by making the payment process easy.
• Convenience: Biometrics also make it possible to set/reset UPI PINs and have cash withdrawn at the ATM.
• Global Leadership: Makes UPI a global leader in digital payments, using the infrastructure of Aadhaar.

About NPCI:

• Name: National Payments Corporation of India.
• Founded: 2008
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• CEO: Dilip Asbe